Most plants that flower in spring require planting in fall. But waiting until it’s time to actually plant before deciding which plants are right for the garden, location, climate and growing situation can mean expensive and disastrous mistakes.
That’s why July and August are great times for gardeners to decide what plants they want blooming in the springtime. It’s also a good time to find out where to find the seeds, bulbs, bare roots or already rooted plants.
Here is a partial list of spring bloomers that are great for waterwise gardens. All of these are spring bloomers and can be considered for planting in fall.
Fragrant Verbena. (Abronia fragrans) Perennial. This member of the four o’clock family can grow from eight inches to more than three feet high. White flowers which may be tipped with lavender or green. Flowers open in late afternoon.
Indian mallow (Abutilon incanum) Perennial Member of Malvaceae (mallow).
Fern or Prairie Acacia (Acacia angustissima) Perennial. Grows 1-4 feet. White round flowers. Seeds high in protein.
Indian Millet (Achatherum hymenoides) Perennial. In dry periods it may turn dormant and brown. It is a source of food for many animals and birds.
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) Perennial. May grow up to three feet. Flowers grow at the top of a stem in a cluster. The leaves look like fern.
Century plant (Agave parryi) Perennial. Leaves are tipped with spines and grow up to a foot.
Silver sagebrush (Artemesia filifolia) Perennial. Up to 18 inches. Aromatic, grayish-green leaves.
Blue gramma (Bouteloua gracilis) Perennial. 12-14 inches high. Blue-green seeds. Tan when dormant.
Lance-leaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata) Perennial. Aggressive and will spread. Grows up to two and a half feet tall, with three to four inch lance-shaped leaves. Flowers are yellow and resemble small daisies.
Jumping cholla (Cylindropuntia fulgida) Cactus. Can grow up to 10 feet. Serves as food for wildlife.
Desert Candle (Dasylirion leiophyllum) Lily family. The appearance of this plant resembles some agaves. Can grow up to 20 feet.
Narrow-leaf coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia) Perennial. Up to 24 inches tall. Does better in cultivation than in the wild.
Tall mountain larkspur (Delphinium scaposum) Deep-blue, almost gentian-colored flowers. Can grow to 20 inches tall. Especially attractive to bees and hummingbirds.
Apache Plume (Fallugia paradoxa) Grows up to six feet. Pinkish-white flowers. After flowering, short, pink-tinged plumes replace them.
Texas lantana (Lantana urticoides) Shrub growing to two feet tall, with spreading branches. Leaves can grow up to two and a half inches long.
Silvery lupine (Lupinus argentus) Growing up to two feet tall. Pink, white or purple flowers in a spike.
Penstemom (Penstemon sp.) A wide variety of colors, heights and other variations of size, color and shape.
Mexican hat (Ratibida columnfera) Red velvety petals with yellow tips. Grows up to three feet tall.
